Where are they now? – Sunderland’s 21/22 promotion winning team
It has been almost 2 years since Sunderland beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 at Wembley Stadium and it’s fair to say the squad has changed quite drastically since. It took 4 years, 4 managers and countless amounts of players, this is the side that managed to get the job done.
Anthony Patterson – Patterson is still with Sunderland, despite being heavily linked with a summer move to Liverpool. The goalkeeper had an impressive season, where he started 45 out of 46 league games.
Lynden Gooch – Gooch left Sunderland to join Stoke City on deadline day of the 2023 summer window after a 17-year association with the club. The Black Cats received a fee of £1 million for Gooch. The versatile American went on to make 31 appearances for the Potters scoring twice.
Danny Batth – Batth also left Sunderland in the 2023 summer window. To the surprise of many, Batth was allowed to sign for Norwich City in what was a controversial transfer just months after winning the Sunderland player of the season award. The powerful centre back made just 16 appearances for the Canaries last season.
Bailey Wright – Wright now plays for Lion City Sailors FC in Singapore. The Australian was given a new deal at Sunderland shortly after winning promotion, however he left the club at the end of the 22/23 season. Wright was sent off just 30 minutes into his Lion City debut.
Dennis Cirkin – Cirkin is still with Sunderland. The promising left back has suffered a severely injury hit season, making just 8 appearances last season. Cirkin had a very impressive 22/23 season helping Sunderland reach the playoffs with his 5 goals from left back.
Luke O’Nien – Another one of the promotion winning side who is still at Sunderland, O’Nien has become a stalwart at centre back. An ever-present in the side, O’Nien has made a total of 84 league appearances since the Wearsiders return to the Championship.
Corry Evans – Now 33 years old, Evans is in the last couple of months of his contract at Sunderland. The club captain had been injured since February 2023, and only made his return from injury in April. Recent reports state that Evans will depart the club at the end of his contract, bringing an end to his 3 year stay on Wearside.
Alex Pritchard – Pritchard left Sunderland in January this year to follow former manager Tony Mowbray to Birmingham City. Pritchard has made 9 appearances for Birmingham and has since been relegated to League One.
Elliott Embleton – Local lad Embleton is still with the club. The midfielder made 23 Championship appearances for his boyhood club before suffering a serious injury which left him side lined for the rest of the season. Embleton joined League One Derby County on loan at the start of the 23/24 season but suffered another lengthy injury, subsequently returning to Sunderland.
Patrick Roberts – Roberts signed a new deal at Sunderland which runs until 2026 in November. The tricky winger had an impressive 22/23 season upon returning to the Championship, forming a exciting partnership with Amad Diallo. Roberts, however, had a disappointing season last time out failing to score a single goal.
Ross Stewart – Stewart scored 10 goals in the 22/23 season, despite only making 13 appearances due to injury. Stewart made his last Sunderland appearance away at Fulham in the FA Cup. Stewart left the club on deadline day of the summer 2023 window to join Southampton in a deal worth up to £10 million.
